Scottish Premier League Ross County FC Chair Roy MacGregor fears that current plans for league reconstruction "will cost clubs heavily because it may lead to supporters opting not to buy season tickets," according to Ewing Grahame of the SCOTSMAN. The 12 Scottish Premier League clubs met at Hampden to continue discussions Monday. Afterward, the clubs confirmed that "they will vote on a reconstruction package" on April 15 with hopes it be implemented "by the start of next season." MacGregor believes, for example, that the idea of splitting the top two leagues into three at the end of the year "means fans will be less likely to make the season-book commitment." And since clubs rely on that guaranteed income each summer in order to set out budgets for the forthcoming campaign, the loss of revenue "would almost inevitably have a detrimental effect." MacGregor said, "Around 80% of the proposals are good -- having the one league body is a must and so is a fairer distribution of income and playoffs. We run the risk of short-changing fans with season tickets for a 22-game season and I believe that, in the long-term, if that isn’t sorted, then that will be the end of people buying season tickets" (SCOTSMAN, 3/12).
NO RUSH TO JUDGMENT: In Glasgow, Ian Orr reported MacGregor spoke after all 12 SPL clubs met at Hampden. MacGregor said, "We need to watch we don’t jeopardise the whole of Scottish football by making rash judgments. Maybe some fans will accept it. Maybe I’m old fashioned and it’s time to move on. Maybe it’s time for pay-as-you-go rather than season-tickets. But it would be good for all club’s fans to have that debate" (DAILY RECORD, 3/12).
